Column: Not enough banner moments for Burroughs

Thursday

Jul 18, 2013 at 11:56 AMJul 18, 2013 at 12:00 PM

When I accepted the job offer to become Sports Editor at the Daily Independent in May it was my first trip to Ridgecrest, Calif., a place that I didn't even know existed until I looked it up on a map. When I moved to Ridgecrest last month, one of my top priorities was to learn about the history of city — specifically its sports history.

By Anthony GentileSPORTS EDITORagentile@ridgecrestca.com

When I accepted the job offer to become Sports Editor at the Daily Independent in May it was my first trip to Ridgecrest, Calif., a place that I didn't even know existed until I looked it up on a map. When I moved to Ridgecrest last month, one of my top priorities was to learn about the history of city — specifically its sports history. My first day on the job, I went to the Burroughs Barn to watch basketball practice and was planning to get a first glimpse of that history. When I stepped inside the cozy confines of the gym, I immediately noticed that I would not be getting my Burros history lesson there. That's because there was a noticeable absence of banners on the walls of the Barn. Legendary coaches, players and teams — including the 2005 Southern Section Eastern Division champion football team that I have heard about around town — peppered the wall, but recent and not-so-recent league and section championship banners remained surprisingly absent. In looking at the walls inside the gym, I didn't know that the Burroughs football team will be defending its Desert Sky League championship when league play kicks off in October. And in the recently completed softball season, I didn't get to see that the Burros captured their first league crown in seven seasons. "We have big goals that we talk about on a regular basis when we meet on the road — this is about winning a DSL championship," Burroughs head boys basketball coach Doug Hayes said after the War on the Floor summer tournament last month.The 2013-14 Burroughs boys basketball team isn't the only one on campus that has league title aspirations. But without banners on the wall, these significant achievements aren't recognized. The Burroughs Barn should be full of green and white banners, both to celebrate past successes and let opponents who likely drove hours for a contest what the Burros are all about. Hung on the wall, from the ceiling or strung across the large black tubes above either sideline, it doesn't matter — the banners should be on display.Until then, it's hard to imagine any team at Burroughs having a banner season.